Are you taking advantage of current federal programs to help your business?

Jul 8th, 2023

Asked by Chuck Casto from Alignable on Jul 08, 2023

Are you receiving government aid or otherwise benefiting from federal programs created to help small businesses? Give us your take below & feel free to post additional thoughts on how the government is helping your business or slowing your progress. (Be sure to include the names of programs you're participating in and like or those that fall short of your needs). If you want to fill out another poll about how your business is faring, please go here.

I’m doing fine & don’t need any government handouts.

17% (376 Votes)

17%

Yes, I’ve received monetary help from government agencies.

6% (138 Votes)

Yes, I’ve received coaching or training from the feds.

2% (41 Votes)

No, I’ve applied for federal programs, but was rejected or never heard back.

6% (137 Votes)

No, it’s too complicated to apply for any help.

7% (163 Votes)

No, I don’t qualify for federal assistance.

7% (160 Votes)

No, I don’t want to apply for any loans.

6% (131 Votes)

I don't know anything about programs that could help me.

31% (698 Votes)

31%

I just want a tax break for small businesses, as our taxes are way too high.

7% (148 Votes)

Overall, I don’t believe our federal government does enough to help small businesses.

7% (152 Votes)

Other – please explain in the comment section below.

3% (76 Votes)

As Head of PR & a former SMB owner himself, Chuck Casto is a small business crusader. He’s deeply invested in letting national media and social influencers know what’s really happening on Main Street. From promoting our polls, to running contests celebrating member achievements, to acting as managing editor of the newsletter, Chuck's one of our chief storytellers. Before Alignable, he led branding, PR & social campaigns for companies from Haagen-Dazs to Harley-Davidson & Wendy’s to Wayfair. Prior to PR, Chuck was a TV reporter in NY, and an editor for local Gannett newspapers. Chuck holds a B.A. from Brown & an M.S.J. from Northwestern.

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All Comments (200)

Comments (1-10)

Business from Noblesville, IN

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

Our government is run by socialists looking to print fiat money to offer handouts to anyone willing to accept them. They are buying votes and bankrupting our nation.

Glen Cole from G W Cole Jr DDS

Amen! So true.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

Government handouts are rarely a good answer, maybe never. With the country's debt, it makes no sense to keep spending money that doesn't exist and only increases the horrendous burden to future generations.

Glen Cole from G W Cole Jr DDS

Well stated!

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

Government takes money from hard working folks and distributes it to self serving politicians while claiming they are helping hard working folks. Then add in the folks who don't want to work or who have been conditioned for government handouts only adds to the deficient. People fail to realize GOVERNMENT HAS NO MONEY. What GOVERNMENT has is OUR TAX DOLLARS.

Neil Maclean from electric city

its sad that your basic premise is soo wrong. I can understand why, since it is repeated by the lying politicians and the corporate grifters who they serve. Your premise assumes the government is like a household where earning is the only way to have money. By contrast, the government makes the money and decides who to loan it to.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

We can not run this country without petroleum products period. DRILL BABY DRILL!!

Mary Richardson from WorkLifeResources

Seriously? Nope.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

I would hardly consider government programs to help small businesses, a "hand out"!

Neil Maclean from electric city

the biggest lobbies receive the biggest handouts: guns, oil, pharmacy, and military, all get support beyond their value. I do think the disproportionate government support and the way their influence structures the laws that grant their support, makes the term 'handout' accurate. Do the detriment of the rest of us.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

Both the provincial and the federal governments in this country are determined to crush the private sector.

Mary Richardson from WorkLifeResources

Not true.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

So my Business “Macmoor Capital” is actually one that helps businesses file for refunds through government programs. There is money available for most businesses however, it seems that only 50% of eligible businesses have filed. There are other types of refunds which aren’t from the government in which most businesses don’t even know about ! Billions of Dollars are left unclaimed each year by businesses all over the United States!!!

Scott Leiffer from Bell Land Surveys LLC

I would be interested in hearing about anything that you have to help with business expansion. I have beena one man show for a long time. I have hired one person and am looking to hire a few more whenever I can afford it.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

The government needs to quit “helping”. This country was not set up for the government to pick winners and losers. We are supposed to be a free market and everybody competes equally.

Mary Richardson from WorkLifeResources

Sorry, the large corporations take too much control of the so-called free market.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

I don't have the travel agent business any more. I ended up closing that business in December 2022 because of the hardship that the pandemic had caused on my business. I was putting more out for programs and services to try and help the business then I had coming into the business. Everything that I have seen in line of federal programs for work business that had employees, which I did not. It was only myself connected to a host agency, so that did not apply.

Doreen Campbell from Angel House Assisted Living

Yes, Dale, the smallest businesses like yours and mine, couldn't get the help. These things are important to know but God has a plan for us, that much we know.

from

Commented on Jul 9th, 2023

I believe a large majority of recipients do not qualify, but apply just looking for a freebie. The government regulators do a poor job of vetting and give my tax money away based on in adequate or false information.

Sabrina McDonald from McDonald Roadway Allies

That definitely happened with PPP loans. Many people that didn't approve of "handouts" took those loans without a need for it, and then applied for loan forgiveness.

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